PAROLEE WHO SHOT AT COP IS FOUND GUILTY

Vista 
An Escondido parolee has been convicted of felony crimes stemming from a Feb. 8 incident in which authorities said he threatened his ex-girlfriend and her 5-year-old daughter, then fired a gun at a police officer.

A jury Tuesday convicted Sergio Alejandro Lopez, 25, of discharging a firearm in a grossly negligent manner and being a felon in possession of a firearm, Deputy District Attorney Cal Logan said Wednesday. He was also convicted of misdemeanor obstruction or delaying of a peace officer.

The jury acquitted Lopez on four other felony charges, including making criminal threats, assault on a peace officer with a semi-automatic firearm and resisting an executive officer, Logan said.

“We respect the verdicts that the jurors made,” he said.

“We believe they diligently considered the evidence presented, and while we didn’t get conviction of all the counts, we are satisfied with the outcome.”

Logan said Lopez pleaded guilty during his trial to a misdemeanor count of violating a stay-away order.

The incident in February occurred at an Escondido mobile home park, which police surrounded after they said Lopez threatened to kill his girlfriend and fired two rounds at a police officer.

Officers conducted a door-to-door search of the area for 16 hours, but Lopez managed to escape the police perimeter and flee to Mexico.

Mexican authorities arrested Lopez and turned him over to the U.S. Marshals Service in May.

A documented gang member who has two prior strikes and serious felony priors, Lopez could face life in prison, Logan said. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 5.